Fisheries - Enviro Dynamics Namibia

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F I S H E R I E S , M A M M A L S A N D S E A B I R D S S P E C I A L I S T S T U D Y This crude assessment does however indicate that approximately 40 different species have been recorded in or adjacent to the MLA and that these species i.e. fish biodiversity will in some way be impacted by the mining operation. The extent of this is impact difficult to judge. Note also that the nature of the data and survey methods does not capture all species – these data are therefore only a subset (indicator) of the total biodiversity. The precautionary approach would be to permit mining under strict monitoring conditions once a biodiversity baseline for the MLA has been established. The significance of the impact is summarised in Table 7. Table 7. Impact assessment table of phosphate mining on fish biodiversity Nature of the impact Extent Final Report Namibian Marine Phosphate (Pty) Ltd. The impact of phosphate mining on species diversity. Mining operations will result a reduction or loss in biodiversity because of the 1) actual mining operations due to dredging operations and vessel activities, 2) the habitat destruction and the removal of substrate and 3) sediment plumes MLA – impact on species diversity is restricted to areas inside the mining licence area (ML 170) and possibly the surrounding areas up to the 25 km buffer zone Permanent (>20 yrs) - the impact will only cease once the mining activity ends after 20 Duration years (the period for which the mining licence is issued) and should persist for an indefinite period thereafter. If biodiversity is lost, the impact is permanent. Minor effect – biodiversity in the MLA is expected to be comparatively low. Loss of biodiversity in the MLA is likely although at the regional level the limited extent of the mining locations is unlikely to cause permanent loss of biodiversity. Recovery of Intensity biodiversity in the specific area of extraction within the MLA once mining has stopped is likely to be slow and will follow a natural process of ecological succession that is dependent upon the rate of recover of the substrate. Improbable – consequence of diversity loss may occur under extreme conditions but Probability are highly unlikely Status (+ or -) Negative Significance (no mitigation) Mitigation Significance (with mitigation) Confidence level Low – the impact on species diversity is not expected to influence project design provided the current area limitations are maintained. Expansion of dredging in the current or alternate lease areas without baseline monitoring of biodiversity and controls must be a prerequisite to the commencement of mining. No practical mitigation measures are possible. Not applicable (no mitigation) Low to medium - assumptions based on marine biodiversity in the MLA is limited to the nature of the data available. Page 72
F I S H E R I E S , M A M M A L S A N D S E A B I R D S S P E C I A L I S T S T U D Y 8.5 IMPACT 5: IMPACT ON SEABIRDS AND MARINE MAMMALS The Namibian coast supports large populations of seabirds (refer to Para. 4.1). The published literature (Cooper 1981, Wiliams and Cooper 1983, Cooper 1985, Berruti 1989, BirdLife International 2004, Hockey et al. 2005, Crawford et al. 2007, Kemper et al. 2007, Kemper 2007, Petersen et al. 2007, Pichegru et al. 2007, Ludynia et al. 2011, Sinclair et al. 2011). Numerous coastal seabirds are expected to be found in or near the MLA (refer to Para. 4.1). Also, Kemper (response to this EIA) suggests that using data logger technology several species of non-breeding seabirds are likely to forage well offshore. These include the species identified in Para. 4.1 (African Penguin and Cape Gannet). These species are therefore likely to be found in and around the MLA. There is also a low likelihood that Bank Comorants and seasonal pelagic species (albatrosses and shearwaters) may be found occasionally in the MLA. In addition these species are likely to be impacted by the lights of the dredging operation (Ryan 1991). The Namibian marine mammal fauna is considered a marginal component of the broad southern Atlantic marine mammal community and includes three species of pinnepeds (seals) and roughly 40 species of cetaceans (whales and dolphin) (Griffin 1998). There has been a northerly shift (away from MLA in the south) in breeding seal populations in the last decade, which is thought to be linked to shifts in the geographical distribution of prey (Kirkman et al. 2007). Baleen whales are thought to be primarily seasonal visitors to the Namibian coast (Para. 4.3 refers) although some species may support resident populations (Griffin 1998). Today most species which were once exploited remain very rare (Bianchi et al. 1999) and whales are now fully protected by Namibian legislation. While the Namibian breeding population of southern right whales Eubalaena australis is thought to have been eradicated by over exploitation (Roux et al. 2001 in Currie and Grobler, 2007), the historical breeding range included Walvis Bay, Conception Bay, Spencer Bay, Lüderitz Bay, Elizabeth Bay and the Sperrgebiet coast. Since 1996 calves have been sighted between Conception Bay and the Orange River, indicating the presence of a breeding population. Mother and calf pairs being recorded within 1 nautical mile of the shore in the shelter of Conception Bay and six locations to the south (Currie and Grobler 2007). Other baleen whales (Para 4.3 refers) that occur along the Namibian coast include, but are not limited to, pygmy right whales Caperea marginata, fin whale Balanoptera physalus, minke whale Balaenoptera acutorostrata, humpback whale Megaptera novaeangliae (Bianchi et al. 1999). All of these species are widely distributed on a global scale but detailed records of the distribution and habitat use of these animals along the Namibian coast are not available. Toothed whales known from Namibia include sperm whale Physeter catodon, killer whales Orcinus orca and the longfinned pilot whale Globicephala melas (Bianchi et al. 1999). All of these species have wide global distributions and thought to be occasional visitors to Namibian coastal waters. A number of dolphin species, most notably the dusky dolphin Lagenorhynchus obscurus, bottlenose dolphin Tursiops truncatus and Heavisides dolphin Cephalorhynchus heavisidii are year round residents along the Namibian coast (Griffin, 1998). The MLA is located in a critical area offshore – that is mid-shelf along the 200 m bathycontour. Its location is therefore close enough to the shore line to expect coastal and oceanic sea birds as well as the large migrating whales and the more localised distributions of the smaller mammals (such a common dolphins and pilot whales). It is therefore assumed that there is a likelihood that Final Report Namibian Marine Phosphate (Pty) Ltd. Page 73
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Final Report Namibian Marine Phosph
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Tables and Figures F I S H E R I E
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1 INTRODUCTION F I S H E R I E S ,
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Fisheries - Enviro Dynamics Namibia

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